A bustling 48 from Tom Moores and a characterful bowling performance in the middle overs saw Notts' clash with Lancashire Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford finish in a tie.

New Zealand international Finn Allen smashed 60 from 43 balls for the hosts, with Keaton Jennings (88) continuing to motor after his opening partner’s departure.

However, he was run out by Steven Mullaney off the final ball as Luke Fletcher's final over earned his side their second tie of this year’s Vitality Blast.

Earlier, the Outlaws made 172, with Moores' knock the defining contribution, on their first trip to Manchester in two summers.

Having been greeted by grey clouds, red roofs and a distinct chill in the air, the Outlaws arrived to an almost Lowry-esque Lancashire scene.

The visitors were inescapably on foreign soil – an impression reinforced by the smattering of socially-distanced cheers reverberating around the ground as Joe Clarke’s innings was truncated by a fine catch from Tom Hartley, scampering backwards from his berth on the edge of the circle.

That gave Sol Budinger his second opportunity in the Vitality Blast, and he and Alex Hales weren’t to be deterred by the sizeable Old Trafford outfield.

If boundaries weren’t achievable, then turning ones into twos was the order of the day.

Then came a fourth over to which Steven Croft had no answer, Hales cutting, sweeping and driving for five successive fours – and running a single from the final ball for good measure to retain the strike.

Hales perished to Hartley for a quickfire 33. Budinger and Ben Duckett were only able to add ten more to the total before the former, immediately after finding the fence with an impeccably-timed on-drive, fell to Luke Wood.

It was an innings which required a little rebuilding, and the proactive pair of Duckett and Tom Moores set about the task diligently – Duckett with a brace of wristy cuts through point, Moores whipping through square leg with trademark élan.

Duckett then wore down the opposition with a pull and a sweep through the leg side which teased the fielders all the way to the rope. A mighty heave over square leg for a maximum brought up the half-century stand, before the left-hander was pinned by Hartley for 35.

Patel, the conqueror of the Falcons on Friday, was smartly caught by Danny Lamb off his own bowling, while Mullaney made six before Wood crowned an expensive over with the scalp of the skipper.

By stealth the Outlaws were amassing a competitive total, and after Fletcher came and went, an audacious reverse-swept six from Moores pushed the Outlaws past 160.

The Green and Golds would conclude on 172, their final three wickets falling in the final over.

It was a total which was slightly above the historic par in Manchester, and one which quickly appeared more challenging as immaculate control from Samit Patel and Matthew Carter kept Jennings and Allen on a leash.

Jake Ball found slippery pace and steepling bounce to tie Lightning down in the third over, before the opening pair began to find their range.

Having been hit for a six from his first ball, Fletcher wrestled back control, but this was Lancashire’s Powerplay. The hosts reached 64 from six overs – crucially, without loss.

This, though, is an Outlaws side with character in spades – and a fine, tumbling take from Joe Clarke saw off Allen just as Lightning were threatening to run away with the contest.

Alex Davies, his replacement, lasted just three balls before falling victim to more Outlaw athleticism, Mullaney gambolling to his left to take a catch off his own bowling.

That left the hosts with an ever-increasing run rate, and when Dane Vilas (12) holed out to Calvin Harrison off Ball in the penultimate over, a dramatic finish was in the offing.

Fletcher strangled Jennings initially, turning a required twelve off six into nine off three.

A six from the opener off the fifth ball of the over then drew enormous cheers from the Old Trafford crowd, but Fletcher would have the last laugh.

Fletcher's final delivery was pinpoint, Mullaney gathered the shot, and Jennings was well short as Moores whipped off the bails to complete the fightback and earn the Outlaws a point.  

View the full scorecard here.